Problem-2: Thief and Gold Coin Problem A thief managed to break into the vault of an ancient bank filled with 9 bags of
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:57 am
Problem-2: Thief and Gold Coin Problem
A thief managed to break into the vault of an ancient bank
filled with 9 bags of coins. One of the bags contains gold coins,
while the other 8 are filled with counterfeit gold coins. He cannot
tell the difference between the gold coins and the fakes by looking
at them. The fake coins weigh exactly 1 ounce each, while the real
gold coins weigh 1.01 ounces.
There is a scale in the room but unfortunately, there is no
measuring weights with it. If he stays more time in the room,
chances for him to be caught, therefore, he must quickly find the
gold coin bag and flee the vault.
What is the minimum number of weighing it takes to find the real
gold coin bag?
A thief managed to break into the vault of an ancient bank
filled with 9 bags of coins. One of the bags contains gold coins,
while the other 8 are filled with counterfeit gold coins. He cannot
tell the difference between the gold coins and the fakes by looking
at them. The fake coins weigh exactly 1 ounce each, while the real
gold coins weigh 1.01 ounces.
There is a scale in the room but unfortunately, there is no
measuring weights with it. If he stays more time in the room,
chances for him to be caught, therefore, he must quickly find the
gold coin bag and flee the vault.
What is the minimum number of weighing it takes to find the real
gold coin bag?